Any parent knows that having a child means having a lot of stuff. By stuff, I mean toys —big toys when they’re small, which transitions to lots of little toys when they’re elementary school age (think Legos, puzzles and those tiny outfits that fit on those miniature Polly Pockets dolls).

As the years go by, and the kids outgrow toys and other playthings, it’s a constant struggle between the nostalgic part of me and the part that wants to avoid being featured on the TV show, “Hoarders.”

It all started when our son, Owen, now 7, started showing interest in Legos at age 3 or 4. By then, we knew we were done having children and gave away or sold our baby gear and toys.

But when he started getting into Legos, my husband literally got giddy. He made a special trip to his parent’s house and returned with five or six hard plastic cases, filled to the brim with
Legos from his childhood: 30-year-old Legos.

I don’t know who was more excited — Chris or Owen. Chris immediately

got to work separating the bricks by color, a process that took an entire afternoon. He continued to work on this project long after Owen lost interest and moved on to something else.

Chris seemed surprised that I thought it was odd that his parents kept all of his Legos. Sure, my mom kept my old Cabbage Patch Kids — in garbage bags, stuffed in the dirt vegetable cellar in the basement. Her intentions were good, but without a thorough top to
bottom cleaning, I wouldn’t give those dolls to my children for anything.

So when Owen outgrew his electric train set, I guess I should have expected Chris to protest when I started taking it apart and packing it up one day. I told him I was thinking about bringing it down to the consignment store. I love the consignment store — we’re recycling, clearing out, and making a little money to buy the new things the kids want and need. But Chris said we should put the train set in the attic, in case our grandkids ever want to play with it.

When Lauren seemed to be done playing with her American Girl dolls recently — she moved them from her bedroom to the basement playroom — I briefly thought about the little bit of money I could get selling them on eBay. She has three dolls, lots of clothes and accessories. I could easily earn enough to justify buying her the iPod Touch she wants for Christmas.

But then I remembered what Chris’ parents did for him – and what my mom tried to do for me. The dolls have been in the basement playroom, sitting among the Lego creations that are still played with, for a couple of months now. I know they’re sadly not going to get touched again by my daughter, but I can’t seem to make myself do anything with them. But when I do (because I don’t want to be on “Hoarders), I will make sure I don’t stuff them in garbage bags and put them in the dirt vegetable cellar.